Decisions that have never been regretted

Day 33: After our neighbors left and right left this morning, there are three more motorhomes at the Los Yagues Motorhome Park . As already briefly described yesterday, the five parking spaces are more than generous. “I just don’t think it’s nice when the cars are parked close together,” says Steve, who himself has a mobile home next to his house. He knows what his guests want and need and is happy to give it to them. A washing machine and a shower cannot be found on every pitch.

The idea was born seven years ago. “The property here is 3,000 square meters,” explains Janette, Steve’s wife. “Half of it should be for the mobile homes.” It took four years for their plan to be implemented. Since 2021, they have been welcoming up to five motorhomes here. So far they have been spared from bad experiences. So Steve says without hesitating for a second: “We have never regretted our decision.”

Just like moving from England to Spain. “That’s a funny story,” says Janette with a grin and begins to tell the story. 30 years ago, she was invited with a very special request by her aunt Margret and her uncle David, who had built a life for themselves in Spain. The two had to fly to England because Margret was hired as a judge for a dog show there. Janette was supposed to be a dog sitter and look after the two Bichon Frisé. Bichon Frize? This is French and translated means “lap dog with curly hair” – this breed is rather unknown in Germany.

The task came at the right time for Janette. She had three small children and had just separated from her husband. Samuel, the youngest, was just a baby at one month old. “I was totally confused at the time,” Janette remembers. “I didn’t know what was right…Should I go? Should I try again with my husband? Maybe because of the children?” Not an easy situation for a young woman. Spanish life was like medicine there. “The people here were all so carefree, relaxed and happy. It was warm, the sun – I felt better every day.” A life in Spain – the dream was born.

Two years later she met Steve, who had also been through a breakup and had a daughter. The two of them went on holiday together with Janette's uncle and aunt, who had now bought a property near Matanza and were living here. And here they found out about a house and property, less than 500 meters from their relatives' property, that was for sale. The two worked hard and in 2004 they had the money together for the property. “The house is 80 years old,” moans Janette, and Steve remembers the first nights when they could watch the starry sky through the holes in the ceiling in their bedroom. "I said, 'Janette, we need to fix the roof,' but she said, 'First we need a swimming pool.'"

They've had it for a long time now, much to the delight of their six grandchildren, who love nothing better than spending their holidays with grandma and grandpa. They celebrate their 17th wedding anniversary on March 2nd. I don't think they have regretted their decision to this day.